A tragic hero, according to the Aristotelian precept, must be a

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks what Aristotle said a tragic hero must be. This comes from his Poetics, the foundation of the study of tragedy.

Step 2: The concept According to Aristotle, a tragic hero:

• Is a person of high estate or noble standing (not necessarily a king, but someone of importance and reputation).
• Is basically good, but not perfect, so the audience can sympathize with him.
• Has a hamartia (a tragic flaw or error of judgment). Often this is linked with hubris (excessive pride).
• Experiences a reversal of fortune (peripeteia) from prosperity to misfortune, leading to catharsis (purging of pity and fear) in the audience.

Step 3: Evaluate the options

• A. Central character after whom the play is named: Many tragedies do this (Oedipus Rex, Hamlet), but Aristotle did not make it a requirement. Not all tragedies are named after the hero.
• B. King with deep affection for his subjects: Aristotle did not require a king, or any particular affection for subjects.
• C. Noble character with hubris: This matches the Aristotelian idea of a high-born hero brought down by a flaw such as pride. This is the best fit.
• D. Lowly character who suddenly stumbles on fortunes: This is the opposite of the tragic pattern. It describes a rise from low to high, which is more typical of comedy. A tragic hero falls from high to low.

Step 4: Answer (Strictly, Aristotle's term is hamartia, a tragic flaw, and hubris is its most common form, but C is clearly the closest option.)

Exam tip: Remember the tragic hero pattern as "Noble + Flaw = Fall." If an option says the character is lowly or rises to fortune, eliminate it immediately. Also watch out for options like A that sound plausible but are not part of Aristotle's actual requirements.